St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-06
WESTERN EERWAYS.
A Matter Which Materially Con.
Germs Minnes0Ia's Material inter

u1
eSgs.
The report of the Estate commission for the
improvement of the Mississippi river con-
tans much matter of practical interest to the
people OF the state. The improvement of our
western waterways is q subject that eSpeci-
ally concerns the material interests of Mime
Sofa, and should therefore receive such con-
sideration at your hands as may promise to
prove a means to that end. The head of
navigation of the Mississippi river, and prac-
ticay of the great lake system, as we'll as of
the Red River of the North. are within our
borders. A large proportion of our products
fluids its war to market through the two first
named OF these waterways, ana the cost of
railroad transportation upon the balance is
greatly lessened by the competition of these
water routes in the carrying trade. The
same is the case with our imports OF heavy
merchandise, coal, etc. The low prices pre-
vailing for our agricultural products make
the question of the cost of their transpOrta-
ton to market an NIL important one at the
present time. Therein largely lies the solu-
ton of the problem with which our pro-
ducers are now wrestling, whether
they can successfully meet the COM
petition of cheap labor elsewhere,
in the growing OF food products for
the worlds consumption. The moderate eX-
penditure made by tbs government in recent
years for the aid of navigation upon our
rivers and the lake has resulted ID more sub
stantial benefit to the internal commerce of
the country than like expenditure elsewhere
upon its inland waterways. Such results
warrant 8 demand upon the government for q
carrying out of the comprehensive system
under which the work has thus for been
prosecuted.
The utility Of the reservoir system at the
sources of the Mississippi river has been
practically demonStT ated during the past sea-
son Of exceptional dryness. From June
until the close of navigation these reservoirs
were constantly drawn upon, and for three
months of the time to an extent that gave q
foot higher wafer at st. Paul than would
otherwise have been the case, as estimated
by the United States engineer in charge, thus
securing good stage OF water for the largest
steamers throughout the season OF naviga-
ton. The work for the Improvement of the
channei OF the upper Mississippi is embar-
raised on account OF the meager appropria-
lions for the purpose, but most substantial
benefit has accrued from the expenditure
already ma lie.
The wonderful and perhaps unprec edented
growth of the commerce OF Duluth, and the
rapid development of the mineral resources
OF our territOr5 bordering on the lake, pre-
sent ia commanding form the i'm )ortance and
Necessity OF the Improvement OF orr harbors
on Lake Superior aud the enlargement of the
Sault Ste. Marie canal. A full presentation
of the facts illustrating the influence and eff
Iect of these waterways in the development
of our resources would doubtless prove a rev.
citation even to many of our own people. Ac-
curate statistics of the commerce OF our riv-
erS AMI lake ports, collected and published in
form for general distribution, would prove
useful in demonstrating the utility of the i'm
proyements desired. l would therefore
recommend that the river commission be au-
thorized to incur the expense necessary for
the collection OF such statistics, the same to
be reported annually to the governor. A
proper expression of his legislature ad-
dressed to congress respecting needed appro-
prlaUions for our waterways would doubtless
aid our representatives in that body il their
efforts to secure the recognition demanded.